Winning question: Am I too young for dermabrasion at 27? I'm of Caribbean descent with a dark-brown complexion and starting to feel self-conscious about my face. I had acne in my teens so there are some marks on my skin (mainly the cheek area), very large pores and some deep frown lines on my forehead. Am I overreacting or is microdermabrasion something that could help?

The simple answer is yes. Dermabrasion is an excellent treatment choice for darker complexions in need of 'resurfacing', and a lot safer than chemical peels, which can sometimes (rarely, but still not worth the risk) cause hypo- or hyper-pigmentation. Marcia Kilgore, who made her fortune as a facialist before inventing the Bliss brand, says: 'Because highly pigmented skins are often sensitive and take on an ashen tone when dehydrated, I suggest you have your first microdermabrasion treatment in conjunction with a full-scale facial. Not only will you get the benefits of the exfoliation process, but removing the dead surface cells will make it easier to clear your large pores and should make your forehead lines less visible. Massage and a good layer of moisture added to your newly dermabraded skin will make sure it doesn't dehydrate.'

For everyday mini-microdermabrasion, you can use a gentle scrub like Bliss's Pore Perfecting Facial Polish (£24, stockists: 0808 100 4151) or Estée Lauder's Idealist Micro-D (£30). If your skin still suffers from the occasional breakout, try using Karin Herzog's Vita A Kombi 1 moisturiser (available from www.hqhair.com) which helps control acne bacteria. If you don't see an improvement in your pigmentation within a couple of months, try dabbing Bliss's Sleeping Peel Mask (£38) on your dark spots and leaving it on overnight.

Facialist Vaishaly Patel offers a microdermabrasion facial at her London salon (51 Paddington Street, London W1, 020 7224 6088; £110 for an hour's treatment). The Crystal Clear microdermabrasion system is available at more than 2,000 salons nationwide. Details: 08705 934934; www.crystalclear.co.uk, prices start at £40.

I've heard that you can now get eyelash extensions. Where can I find a salon local to me, what is involved and how long do the lashes last?

I knew a trend was under way when the Virgin air hostesses on my recent flight from Shanghai were all wearing wonderful eyelash extensions. Call Alison Francis at Professional Beauty Ltd in Salisbury (01722 329829) - she can give you countrywide stockists for the therapists she has trained to offer this service. If you live in or near Salisbury, then you are lucky and can go to her.

These eyelash extensions are totally different to anything that went before them. They are individual extensions for each hair so, be warned, it takes a long time. Three hours, in total, for a friend who had it done recently. These new extensions use a synthetic hair which is very similar to human hair, and are thick at the roots like a natural eyelash. The results are fabulous. But there is a down-side. Eyelash extensions are high maintenance and you must be careful with them. I think they are suited to someone who has deep-set eyes (a lot of lid) and does not wear a lot of eye-make up, mascara, shadow etcetera, as regular rubbing and cleansing around the eye area every night could be tricky, not to mention time-consuming when you are tired (you will also have to be careful how you sleep which could prove difficult). Regular top-ups are recommended every fortnight, which is pretty hard work just for your eyelashes, in my opinion. It is not cheap. If you live in London, call Arezoo Kaviani (07768 903090). Expect to pay around £120 for initial extensions and £50 for top-ups - an eyelash has a lifespan of about three months.

What is the secret of perfectly curled eyelashes? I have quite long lashes and use Shu Uemura curlers, sometimes gently heating them with a hairdryer. They look good immediately after curling but they soon start to droop.

While we're on the subject of eyelashes, and as a big fan of Shu Uemura's eyelash curlers, you could try very carefully curling your lashes after a coat of mascara. I find it makes the process more permanent but you have to have a gentle touch so as not to pull the lashes or get them stuck.

After that, the only thing I can suggest you try is to have your eyelashes professionally permed. This is very normal in Japan and Korea where girls have them done every month and it looks great when done properly. Because you have such long lashes, they weigh more and are more difficult to curl. Even heated curlers would not have an effect that would last much longer than an hour. An eyelash perm would last for approximately six to eight weeks and is a brilliant idea if you swim or ski as they are very low-maintenance once they are done. If you are fair you can have them tinted at the same time and then you hardly need to wear mascara even.

But, as with everything, the person who does the perming is crucial. Badly done and they will be a disaster. If you live in London, call Norma Newman (020 7731 2323). The process should cost £40 to £60.